Pancho Villa (1972) - Once Upon a Time in a Western

Telly Savalas is Pancho Villa, a revolutionary headed to prison until rescued by his men, led by a very capable lieutenant named Scotty (Clint Walker).

But the revolutionaries have a big problem; they have very little ammunition and not nearly enough weapons.

So Pancho convinces so local bankers to finance a weapons purchase, then sends Scotty to Texas to finalize the deal. But between trying to reignite some passion with an old flame named Flo (Anne Francis), Scotty discovers the gun-runner named McDermott is trying to double cross him.

McDermott has sold the same batch of weapons to both sides of the south-of-the-border conflict. So Scotty heads back to Mexico empty-handed, and having lost a few men along the way.

Pancho decides there’s only one thing to do — invade Columbus, Texas. He succeeds initially.

But pretty soon, a military martinet of a colonel named Wilcox (Chuck Connors) is on his trail, with a detachment of the U.S. Army that looks darn near invincible.

It matters not to Pancho. He’s determined not to return to Mexico without some spoils from his mini-invasion into Texas.

Telly Savalas as Pancho Villa, explaining his grand vision in Pancho Villa (1972)

Clint Walker as Scotty, the man in charge of obtaining weapons for Pancho’s army in Pancho Villa (1972)

Review:

Who in the world was giving Savalas, Walker, Connors and Francis their career advice when they got involved in this turkey?

After a promising opening — Savalas jokes above the fact that his captors have approved his appearance by shaving his head, then retires to a movie theater to watch silent films of his own exploits — the film becomes a rambling mess.

Posters seem to bill the movie as a bio-film. It’s more of a comedy, except for the scenes in which Pancho is gleefully killing U.S. soldiers.

And the jokes aren’t nearly as funny as those involved intended. Like the extended sequence where Wilcox has everyone in his mess tent trying — quite unsuccessfully — to track down a single fly.

Even a train collision near the end has been done far better in other films.

And, wow, what a dreadful end song that plays as the credits roll.

Anne Francis as Flo, Scotty’s mostly estranged wife in Pancho Villa (1972)

Chuck Connors as Col. Wilcox, ordering an assault on a fly who invades the mess hall in Pancho Villa (1972)

Directed by:
Eugenio Martin

Cast:
Telly Savalas … Pancho Villa
Clint Walker … Scotty
Chuck Connors … Col. Wilcox
Anne Francis … Flo
Angel Del Pozo … Lt. Eager
Jose Maria Prada … Luis
Luis Davila … McDermott
Monica Randall … Lupe
Antonio Casas … Gen. Goyo
Alberto Dalbes … Mendoza
Barta Barri … Alfonso
Walter Coy … Gen. Pershing

Also with: Dennis Vaughan, Hal Fletcher, Ralph Nevilla, Gene Collins, Bob Hevelone, Art Larkin, Adolfo Thous, Fernando Sanchez Polack, Fernando Hilbeck, Felipe Solano, Dan van Husen, Ben Tatar, Lorraine Clewes, Marjorie Neville, Nancy Baytos, Eduardo Calvo, Gerardo Navarro, Lucy Tiller Lola Gaos, Ines Oviedo, Luis Marin, Tony Skios, Norman Bailey, Alberto Fernandez, Antonio Rossi, Luis Rivera, Bud Strait, Carl Rapp, Lone Ferk, Antonio Padilla, Alejandro Ulloa

aka:
Vendetta
El Desafio de Pancho Villa

Score: Anton Garcia Abril

Song: “We All End Up the Same”
performed by Telly Savalas

Runtime: 92 min.

Walter Coy as Gen. Pershing, a U.S. commander on the watch for rebels in Pancho Villa (1972)

Antonio Casas as Gen. Goyo, checking on his prized prisoner Pancho in Pancho Villa (1972)

Memorable lines:

Pancho, after his captors have shaved his head: “Who am I anyway, Samson. I need a haircut. You know, I looking more interesting this way. More intelligent. You know, like a professor.”

Pancho: “Now, when we cross the border, what can we expect to find?”
Scotty: “There’s an army garrison right about there.” He indicates a point on a map. “And I’m worried about their commanding officer, a Colonel Wilcox.”
Pancho: “Why should you be worried about him?”
Scotty: “Because he’s got nerves of iron and rocks in his head.”

Monica Randall as Lupe, reunited with the man who wronged her in Pancho Villa (1972)

Luis Davila as McDermott, the gun dealer with too many buyers in Pancho Villa (1972)

Trivia:

Chuck Connors has a silly role here — in fact, nearly every one of his scenes is embarrassingly awful. But he had already gained fame as the star of the TV series Rifleman (1958-63). Before turning to acting, he has brief stints in the NBA and the Major Leagues. In fact, in 1946, he became the first NBA player to shatter a backboard.

Spaghetti comedy was clearly not director Eugenio Martin’s strong suit. He also wasted a talented cast in the dreadful “Bad Man’s River,” starring Lee Van Cleef and Gina Lollobrigida.

Telly Savalas sings a song over the closing credits (check it out above). It’s in keeping with the rest of the film, which means it isn’t among Spaghetti’s musical highlights.